A Practical Guide for NCDs Prevention: Developing Six Behavioral Science Techniques for Village Health Volunteers.

Abstract

This research and development (R&D) aimed to: 1) develop a health behavior modification manual for preventing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) tailored for Village Health Volunteers (VHVs); 2) test the feasibility of its implementation; and 3) improve the manual’s quality and efficiency. The study was conducted in three phases: Phase 1: Manual development based on a literature review of 23 sources and interviews with 6 expert VHVs. Phase 2: Feasibility testing with a sample of 30 VHVs in Ban Tha Sai Subdistrict, Nakhon Nayok Province. Phase 3: Development of multimedia materials and online evaluation.Data were analyzed using percentages, means (x̄), standard deviations (S.D.), and content analysis.

The developed manual achieved an Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) between 0.80 and 1.00. It comprises six core techniques: 1) Motivation Building, 2) Goal Setting, 3) Modeling, 4) Social Support, 5) Self-Monitoring, and 6) Positive Reinforcement. The trial results indicated that VHVs' overall satisfaction was at the highest level (x̄ = 4.60, S.D. = 0.46), with the "Practical Application" aspect receiving the highest mean score (x̄= 4.62). In the final evaluation, 97.72% of VHVs agreed that the content sequence facilitated easy learning, and 70.03% reported being able to apply the knowledge to enhance their work confidence frequently or consistently. This manual is an effective tool that aligns with local contexts. It significantly enhances the potential of VHVs in tangibly modifying health behaviors within their communities.